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Growing In God with Gary Hargrave


Jan 18, 2023

It may seem like world leaders today are getting away with just about anything, but we should not assume that God's hand is not on the leadership of the nations. There needs to be more of a faith in our hearts, more of a trust in our spirits that God is in control of those who are in leadership positions. God is bringing all the nations to the valley of decision, and the leaders of those nations will face the consequences of how they have related to Him and to His people.

 

Show Notes: We are commanded to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We are not to judge or condemn them because we must all give an account before God. At the same time, our prayers for world leaders must include the fact that they too will be held accountable. God is not missing what is going on in the earth. He is aware of the wickedness. He is aware of the situations on national levels. It may appear otherwise at times, but God is bringing the nations to a place of decision in this day, and that process will turn loose His ability to act regarding leaders.

 

We have some good examples of this in the Scriptures. God had anointed Saul king of Israel, but when Saul was disobedient that anointing and spiritual protection was removed. Finally, Saul was driven by an evil spirit and eventually destroyed. In another example, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon refused to honor God and was driven by a spirit to be nothing more than an animal. He learned his lesson, repented, and was restored to his throne.

 

We see leaders today who are obviously driven by demonic spirits, and they will know the consequences of their decisions. God is bringing all the peoples of the nations to a place of decision and judgment in the Day of the Lord. He deals with everyone, both in and out of leadership, but especially with those who have the responsibility before Him because no authority exists other than what is given by God. Let us have faith and trust that God really is in charge, and He is carrying out His will in these last days to accomplish His purposes and bring about His Kingdom.

 

Key Verses:

 

  • Matthew 6:10. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
  • Romans 14:10–12. “Why do you judge your brother? … Each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”
  • Joel 3:12–14. “The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”
  • 1 Samuel 16:14–16. “The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.”
  • Daniel 4:30-37. “The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.”
  • Romans 13:1. “There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.”
  • Philippians 2:10–11. Every knee will bow, … every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

 

Quotes:

 

  • “God has given authority, does give authority, and is involved in the leadership of the nations in ways that we can't see or necessarily imagine. And each one is going to stand before God and give an account for themselves and for their actions.”
  • “God withdrew from Saul. And God will withdraw His protection and His anointing and His presence from people who are rebellious and not giving Him the glory and following His will.”
  • “God will bring judgment. He is sorting out everyone, including the leaders of the nations.”

 

Takeaways:

 

  1. As you watch leaders and rulers today, it seems like they can get away with anything and do anything they want, without consequence for their actions or their thinking. But the Scriptures show us that God deals with those in leadership and will hold them accountable.
  2. As believers, ours is a place of prayer and intercession. We live knowing that we are in the days that Joel spoke of when God is bringing all the nations to a place of decision. No national leader in this day will be able to find a way around the reality of what God is doing in bringing all mankind to decision and judgment.
  3. The decision is about Him and about serving Him and how we relate to Him as individuals. As the Scriptures tell us, we will all stand before Him and He will be the one who judges and determines the consequences of the decisions we have made.